Changes

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Elizabeth: Someday you will have to [[describe]] your [[personality]] for us.

Elizabeth: Someday you will have to [[describe]] your [[personality]] for us.

MERIUM: Someday, as you get to know me, you will be able to tell me about it yourself! Indeed, you remind me of our session on Tuesday, but I will only titillate you by that hint, and so you must find out by hearsay how we carried on, on Tuesday, but this evening I would like to discuss, but briefly, this thing about the meek.

You have, some of you, been [[discussing]] the [[meek]]. The meek are easy to discuss for they do not threaten. Like the [[elderly]] man and woman, like the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butler,_Pennsylvania Butler] citizens, like the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_school Sunday School] children, these are examples of the meek. There is no threat from them. They are easy to recognize, easy to [[observe]]. Theirs' truly is the [[Kingdom of Heaven]]. They have not only [[inherited]] the [[earth]], they are quite [[comfortable]] upon it. They make themselves at [[home]] here. They have no [[argument]] with their Maker or their lot in [[life]]. They have [[accepted]] and [[adjusted]]. They are not [[angry]]. They are not impatient. They are [[meek]] and they are beloved. They are not troublemakers, they are not rabble-rousers, they are not do-gooders, they are not movers and shakers. They are [[meek]], easily accessible, too easily [[vulnerable]].

You have, some of you, been discussing the meek. The meek are easy to discuss for they do not threaten. Like the elderly man and woman, like the Butler citizens, like the Sunday School children, these are examples of the meek. There is no threat from them. They are easy to recognize, easy to observe. Theirs' truly is the Kingdom of Heaven. They have not only inherited the earth, they are quite comfortable upon it. They make themselves at home here. They have no argument with their Maker or their lot in life. They have accepted and adjusted. They are not angry. They are not impatient. They are meek and they are beloved. They are not troublemakers, they are not rabble-rousers, they are not do-gooders, they are not movers and shakers. They are meek, easily accessible, too easily vulnerable.

Elizabeth: Well one person who isn't [[meek]] is ___ [[[spouse]] of a group member]. He was an example of a [[personality]] that wasn't meek.

Elizabeth: Well one person who isn't meek is ___ [spouse of a group member]. He was an example of a personality that wasn't meek.

Leah: Very un-meek.

MERIUM: I recognize that. I did not include him for that reason.

MERIUM: I recognize that. I did not include him for that reason.

In, again, focussing on "blessed are the meek," I remind you to be meek, to be at home on Urantia, to be a man among men that you might rub shoulders with your fellow men.

In, again, [[focusing]] on "[[blessed]] are the meek," I remind you to be meek, to be at [[home]] on [[Urantia]], to be a man among men that you might rub shoulders with your fellow men.

Am I receiving signals that I should be saying female gender words here?

Am I [[receiving]] [[signals]] that I should be saying [[female]] [[gender]] [[words]] here?

Elizabeth: No!

Elizabeth: No!

Leah: You probably heard me say that. There are no men in this room.

Leah: You probably heard me say that. There are no men in this room.

MERIUM: It is a language usage.

 

MERIUM: It is a [[language]] usage.

 

Leah: Of course.

Leah: Of course.

MERIUM: I intend no disrespect to our gender.

MERIUM: I intend no disrespect to our [[gender]].

 

Elizabeth: "Our" gender.

Elizabeth: "Our" gender.

MERIUM: I return you to brother Tomas.

MERIUM: I return you to brother Tomas.

Leah: Thank you for coming.

Leah: Thank you for coming.

Elizabeth: Thank you very much, Merium.

Elizabeth: Thank you very much, Merium.

TOMAS: We are both here and are both available to "field questions or comments. Let's move on. Are there questions about our discussions or about your experiences on your assignment or about your reading, or any commentary?

TOMAS: We are both here and are both available to "field [[questions]] or comments. Let's move on. Are there questions about our [[discussions]] or about your [[experiences]] on your assignment or about your [[reading]], or any [[commentary]]?

Elizabeth: Well, in speaking about personalities, sometimes I feel a little concerned because I enjoy putting personalities around me that I find easy to deal with and pleasant and I don't think I'm getting a lot of practice in dealing with the other type of people, and so I think maybe I'm not using my time here to learn as much as I should, but I prefer not to have to do it unless it's thrust upon me.

Elizabeth: Well, in speaking about [[personalities]], sometimes I feel a little concerned because I enjoy putting personalities around me that I find easy to deal with and pleasant and I don't think I'm getting a lot of [[practice]] in dealing with the other type of people, and so I think maybe I'm not using my time here to learn as much as I should, but I prefer not to have to do it unless it's thrust upon me.

I certainly did put in a lot of years with my father, who was a bit of a curmudgeon personality, so maybe I got a lot of practice there, I'm not sure, but I was getting the idea that you were saying something to us about a lot of our growth is going to take place in our relationships with these diverse personalities. Is that correct, Tomas?

I certainly did put in a lot of years with my [[father]], who was a bit of a [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/curmudgeon curmudgeon] personality, so maybe I got a lot of [[practice]] there, I'm not sure, but I was getting the [[idea]] that you were saying something to us about a lot of our [[growth]] is going to take place in our [[relationships]] with these [[diverse]] [[personalities]]. Is that correct, Tomas?

TOMAS: That is certainly correct. And this will be so throughout eternity.

TOMAS: That is certainly correct. And this will be so throughout [[eternity]].

Elizabeth: And yet I seek the personalities that are easy for me to deal with. That's not a lot of practice, as I said.

Elizabeth: And yet I seek the [[personalities]] that are easy for me to deal with. That's not a lot of [[practice]], as I said.

 

TOMAS: You have become [[skilled]] at [[insulating]] yourself against the [[vicissitudes]] of life.

Elizabeth: Yeah. I have.

Elizabeth: Yeah. I have.

TOMAS: It is a normal thing to aspire toward, but it is not always successful, and yet, Elizabeth, you have effectively insulated yourself from much that could cause you damage; that is, you and your family. But you have also removed yourself from the mainstream wherein the seeds are able to fall on fertile soil.

TOMAS: It is a [[normal]] thing to [[aspire]] toward, but it is not always successful, and yet, Elizabeth, you have effectively [[insulated]] yourself from much that could [[cause]] you damage; that is, you and your [[family]]. But you have also removed yourself from the [[mainstream]] wherein the [[seeds]] are able to fall on [[fertile]] [[soil]].

It is perhaps not your liking to fraternize with the ilk of the Alpheus twins. Granted they are not what one would call socially fragrant, intellectually challenging or stimulating, creatively stimulating, even spiritually compatible, but they are important, you see, for they are your brothers. They are part of your family, and although you can insulate yourself and educate yourself and so forth, you will one day need to accept your fellowship leanings.

It is perhaps not your liking to fraternize with the ilk of the [[Alpheus twins]]. Granted they are not what one would call [[socially]] [[fragrant]], [[intellectually]] challenging or [[stimulating]], [[creatively]] stimulating, even spiritually [[compatible]], but they are important, you see, for they are your brothers. They are part of your [[family]], and although you can [[insulate]] yourself and educate yourself and so forth, you will one day need to [[accept]] your fellowship leanings.

There is no satisfaction as deep as recognizing the fraternity of siblings in the spirit, and in the spirit it matters not whether you are clever or smart or witty, but that you are real. In time you will yearn to become not more gracious, more refined, more well insulated, but more real. Indeed, as you grow in the spirit you become more Real, and like "The Velveteen Rabbit," this is not done by remaining insulated and on a shelf, but it comes from being rubbed and hugged and scratched and buffeted until your whiskers fall off.

There is no [[satisfaction]] as deep as [[recognizing]] the fraternity of siblings in the [[spirit]], and in the spirit it matters not whether you are [[clever]] or smart or witty, but that you are real. In time you will yearn to [[become]] not more [[gracious]], more refined, more well [[insulated]], but more real. Indeed, as you grow in the [[spirit]] you become more Real, and like "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Velveteen_Rabbit The Velveteen Rabbit]," this is not done by remaining [[insulated]] and on a shelf, but it comes from being rubbed and hugged and scratched and buffeted until your whiskers fall off.

I understand that the structure of your life has deep roots. Great history goes into this insulated existence in which you have found yourself. But it is true, as you say, that your eternity in front of you involves adapting to other personalities and it is a good time and place here and now to begin, recognizing that all attached humans to these personalities are not necessarily what you would call lovely. It is hard to love unlovely mankind, but it is an aspect of Sonship that you want for your brothers even that which they do not know that they want for themselves.

I [[understand]] that the [[structure]] of your [[life]] has deep [[roots]]. Great [[history]] goes into this [[insulated]] [[existence]] in which you have found yourself. But it is true, as you say, that your [[eternity]] in front of you involves [[adapting]] to other personalities and it is a good time and place here and now to begin, recognizing that all attached humans to these [[personalities]] are not necessarily what you would call lovely. It is hard to love unlovely [[mankind]], but it is an aspect of Sonship that you want for your brothers even that which they do not know that they want for themselves.

How have you been, Kate?

How have you been, Kate?

TOMAS: It is good to see you.

TOMAS: It is good to see you.

I sense that you are not as vocal this evening as you normally are. Perhaps it is because we have experienced some focused sharing. Have you found merit to our exercise? (Yes) I enjoy hearing you learn to communicate, to convey meaningful value to each other.

I sense that you are not as [[vocal]] this evening as you normally are. Perhaps it is because we have [[experienced]] some [[focused]] [[sharing]]. Have you found merit to our [[exercise]]? (Yes) I enjoy hearing you learn to [[communicate]], to convey meaningful [[value]] to each other.

Elizabeth: We're probably going to continue, in a certain respect. We're going to continue a little bit of this, even if we get a new assignment. I think we're going to do this again.

Elizabeth: We're probably going to continue, in a certain respect. We're going to continue a little bit of this, even if we get a new [[assignment]]. I think we're going to do this again.

TOMAS: I appreciate the sharing aspect and would encourage it to continue, for it eliminates excessive chatter. I do appreciate the need for socialization and the culture which you share, and indeed the fragrant personalities that you are that would give rise to such joyous socialization, but it is my purpose to introduce the spirit into your lives.

TOMAS: I [[appreciate]] the [[sharing]] aspect and would [[encourage]] it to continue, for it eliminates excessive chatter. I do appreciate the need for [[socialization]] and the [[culture]] which you share, and indeed the fragrant personalities that you are that would give rise to such [[joyous]] [[socialization]], but it is my [[purpose]] to introduce the [[spirit]] into your lives.

The Paper having to do with Religion in Human Experience indicates that there is a difference between a social gathering and a spiritual gathering, and I am going to pull rank and say that I believe that if we are here in honor of Michael and to study how he lived, it is more toward a spiritual meeting than a social meeting, and so I would like to keep communion as a part of our gathering together, and perhaps when you have a party I can observe without comment. However, I do not want to usurp your intercourse, and so when I have concluded, or when the teaching platform has concluded, you are certainly at liberty to return to your social customs.

The Paper having to do with [[Paper 100|Religion in Human Experience]] indicates that there is a [[difference]] between a [[social]] gathering and a [[spiritual]] gathering, and I am going to pull rank and say that I believe that if we are here in [[honor]] of [[Michael]] and to [[study]] how he lived, it is more toward a [[spiritual]] meeting than a [[social]] [[meeting]], and so I would like to keep [[communion]] as a part of our gathering together, and perhaps when you have a party I can [[observe]] without comment. However, I do not want to usurp your [[intercourse]], and so when I have concluded, or when the teaching [[platform]] has concluded, you are certainly at [[liberty]] to return to your social [[customs]].

Elizabeth: I think it's productive to do what we did and to keep it to a certain extent focused on a spiritual path. I think everybody else feels that way. We do a lot of social things, so this isn't supposed to be truly social.

Elizabeth: I think it's productive to do what we did and to keep it to a certain extent [[focused]] on a [[spiritual]] [[path]]. I think everybody else [[feels]] that way. We do a lot of social things, so this isn't supposed to be truly social.

TOMAS: I will then think about an assignment for you for next week, and let us continue to observe what is personality --not that you have to do anything about it, mind you, but observe what you perceive to be personality.

TOMAS: I will then think about an [[assignment]] for you for next week, and let us continue to [[observe]] what is [[personality]] --not that you have to do anything about it, mind you, but [[observe]] what you [[perceive]] to be personality.

(In reference to those personalities who are so difficult of loving -- you are cherished for your efforts, for your long suffering, for your endurance, and indeed for your mercy, for final judgment is beyond the mortal realms. It lies in the Ancients of Days who have greater wisdom that we. It is not for us to determine when personality has become extinct, when the light of a personality has gone out.)

(In reference to those [[personalities]] who are so difficult of loving -- you are cherished for your [[efforts]], for your long [[suffering]], for your [[endurance]], and indeed for your [[mercy]], for final [[judgment]] is beyond the mortal realms. It lies in the [[Ancients of Days]] who have greater [[wisdom]] that we. It is not for us to determine when [[personality]] has [[become]] [[extinct]], when the [[light]] of a personality has gone out.)

We will continue to observe personality in terms of the living tree, the living fruit.

We will continue to observe [[personality]] in terms of the living tree, the living fruit.

Kate: Fruit of the spirit, Tomas?

Kate: [[Fruit of the spirit]], Tomas?

TOMAS: Always. I do not mean to bring up this fruit to maturity too quickly, but in observing personality, observe personality as it is - alive! The tree is alive and showing fruit. It is not ready to be hewn down and cast into the fire. It is the living personality that I want you to observe ("Let the dead bury the dead."). Focus on that child of God. Continue to appreciate their personality, their mortal personality aspects as a child of God, given personality by Him.

TOMAS: Always. I do not mean to bring up this fruit to [[maturity]] too quickly, but in observing [[personality]], observe personality as it is - alive! The tree is alive and showing fruit. It is not ready to be hewn down and cast into the [[fire]]. It is the living [[personality]] that I want you to observe ("Let the dead bury the dead."). [[Focus]] on that child of God. Continue to [[appreciate]] their personality, their mortal personality aspects as a child of God, given personality by Him.

And see, too, allow your spirit inside you to speak to you regarding your service. Is it a nod? Is it eye contact? Is it "Hello?" Is it shared laughter? Is it a complaint about the weather in good humor? Is it further discourse? These small steps open doors. Continue to remind yourself of the purpose of your life: to know God, to be more like Him, and to serve his children, fostering the reality of God on Urantia.

And see, too, allow your [[spirit]] inside you to speak to you regarding your [[service]]. Is it a nod? Is it eye contact? Is it "Hello?" Is it [[shared]] [[laughter]]? Is it a [[complaint]] about the [[weather]] in good [[humor]]? Is it further [[discourse]]? These small [[steps]] open doors. Continue to remind yourself of the [[purpose]] of your life: to know God, to be more like Him, and to serve his children, fostering the [[reality]] of God on [[Urantia]].

Yes, we will not go too far in the assignment. Continue to study personality. Observe, admire, be amused by your fellow brothers and sisters, and feel for a leaning in terms of service. Report back to me then next week regarding any leanings you may have felt. We will go from there as to what then to do with those leanings. All right?

Yes, we will not go too far in the assignment. Continue to study [[personality]]. [[Observe]], admire, be amused by your fellow brothers and sisters, and feel for a leaning in terms of service. Report back to me then next week regarding any leanings you may have felt. We will go from there as to what then to do with those leanings. All right?

Group: (Assent)

Group: (Assent)

===Closing===

===Closing===

TOMAS: Merium joins me in wishing you well on your adventures this upcoming week. It is spring. People are out and about. They are innocent. They are fresh. They may be grumpy but they are happy that it is spring, and so the positive outweighs the negative. Therefore, enjoy yourselves. Walk in grace and in beauty. Farewell.

TOMAS: Merium joins me in [[wishing]] you well on your [[adventures]] this upcoming week. It is [[spring]]. People are out and about. They are [[innocent]]. They are fresh. They may be grumpy but they are [[happy]] that it is spring, and so the [[positive]] outweighs the [[negative]]. Therefore, enjoy yourselves. Walk in [[grace]] and in [[beauty]]. Farewell.

[[Category: The Teaching Mission: Dialogues]]

[[Category: The Teaching Mission: Dialogues]]

[[Category: Merium]]

[[Category: Merium]]

[[Category: Gerdean]]

[[Category: Gerdean]]

[[Category: 1997]]

[[Category: 1997]]